Common Name: grace smoke tree
Scientific Name:
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Cotinus
Species: coggygria x obovatus
Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
Height: 10 to 15 ft
Width: 10 to 15 ft
Common characteristics:
Grace smoke tree is a cross between the European smoke bush (C. coggygira) and the American smoke tree (C. obovatus). It adds a beautiful aesthetic appeal to any landscape. Appearing as a small tree or multi-stemmed shrub that grows 12 to 15' tall. The grace smoke tree displays rich spring foliage or wine red leaves early darkening to a dark red in the summer, and purple-pink flower blooms in the summer that covers the tree in smoky like puffs, followed by brilliant red to orange autumn foliage. This low maintenance tree makes for an excellent ornamental within its range, typically from the lower midwest all the way down to Texas.
Where it grows:
Prefers average, well-drained soils. Tolerates poor, rocky, and clay soils but cannot tolerate wet sites. Will tolerate drought once established
How it’s used:
Best suited as an ornamental large bush or small tree in a yard or flower beds. Used as shrub borders or hedges also.
Ecosystem services:
The smoke tree will attract butterflies and other insect pollinators.
Where it is native to:
Native to North American and grows in a wide range of climate zones.
Problems:
Little to no problems with disease or pest. Watch for verticillium wilt and powdery mildew in the summer.
References:
Gardenia.net. (Cotinus 'Grace' Smokebush) Found online: https://www.gardenia.net/plant/cotinus-grace-smokebush
Fine Gardening. (Grace' Smoke Tree). Found Online: http://www.finegardening.com/plant/grace-smoke-tree-cotinus-grace
